Smith's Bible Dictionary

Smith, William

A classic reference, this comprehensive Bible dictionary provides a wealth of basic background information. It includes more than 400 illustrations and special articles in addition to page after page of basic information.

Brick

Brick.Gen. 11:3. The bricks in use among the Jews were much larger than with us, being usually from 12 to 13 inches square and 3½ inches thick; they thus possess more of the character of tiles. Ezek. 4:1. The Israelites, in common with other captives, were employed by the Egyptian monarchs in making bricks and in building. Ex. 1:14; 5:7. Egyptian bricks were not generally dried in kilns, but in the sun. That brick-kilns were known is evident from 2 Sam. 12:31; Jer. 43:9. When made of the Nile mud they required straw to prevent cracking. [See Straw.]

Assyrian Brick from Nimroud, inscribed with Shalmaneser’s Name and Title.